ANC 'won't be derailed by lawsuits'

2011-03-12 22:56

Pretoria - The ANC will register its national list for the upcoming local government elections in two weeks without being derailed by pending lawsuits, the party's general secretary Gwede Mantashe said on Saturday.

"We only have one lawsuit and it will not stop us from continuing doing our work," Mantashe said at a press briefing in Pretoria on Saturday.

He was referring to an incident in which four party members in the Alfred Nzo region launched a lawsuit against the ANC in the past week, in a dispute over a candidate list.

The group approached the Mthatha High Court on Tuesday, submitting that decision to hold the list conference on Tuesday prior to the verification of properly constituted ANC branch meetings was illegal.

They further said the conference should not have gone ahead prior to rulings on matters being appealed, and that an audit report determining the number of delegates in respect of each branch was invalid and should be set aside.

The interim order was granted, prohibiting the ANC from submitting candidate names for local government elections.

Suspension

The ANC, which was opposing the application, would have to provide reason on Thursday next week, why the interdict should not be made a final order.

Meanwhile, Mantashe reiterated that any member who took the ANC to court simply had no interest in the party and would be immediately suspended for bringing the party into disrepute, pending internal disciplinary processes.

The same would apply to the four party members who had approached the courts.

As the ANC held its NEC meeting to discuss issues of the draft list of candidates, Mantashe said they had already gone through lists submitted by branches.

He said seven of the provinces had completed the processes, while the Eastern Cape and the North West still had "issues" that needed to be sorted out.

Process marred

"A majority of the Eastern Cape is almost ready in a majority of its regions. We need to re-visit them (including the North West) and engage them on some issues that came out of the lists. Overall the list is almost ready," he said.

"We'll be able to register the list early so that if there are issues raised by the IEC (Independent Electoral Commission), we at least have three days to attend to them."

The deadline that the ANC had set itself was March 22.

The IEC announced on Friday that all parties needed to submit their candidate lists by March 25.

The ANC's list process, which saw communities being invited in vetting candidates for the first time, had been marred by controversy, with some members claiming regional leaders put their own preferred candidates on lists.

Referring to continuity as one of the criteria to be considered when deliberating on lists, Mantashe pointed out that a majority of municipalities around the country suffered because of the election of new councillors into office, while only a few succeed due to the retention.

"In municipalities where we do well, retention is very high. In councils were we don't do well you see new people coming in."

Women represented

The NEC would also intervene in ensuring that women are represented in lists.

Mantashe said from this process, they were hoping to come out with an overall better quality of councillors.

When asked if he believed the candidates on the lists submitted had the necessary skills to be councillors, Mantashe said the quality of councillors was "something that is assumed".

"You look at qualifications; you look into the history of the person, the involvement, the experience and assume that person has better quality."

Risks

He said a risk was when communities nominate someone because that person was very vocal, neglecting to interrogate on content.

"You find that in terms of content that person is weak and he becomes councillor and that community is going to pay the price for five years because they elected a person who talks loud without interrogating the content."

The NEC meeting was expected to conclude on Sunday, with the adoption of a list for submission to the IEC.

Comments

Grant - 2011-03-12 23:16

I am just loving this - the cracks are widening which can only be good for the country. It is high time that the ANC learnt that imposing the will of the few on the majority is not democracy. The people must be governed by the people, for the people - power is not for the enrichment of the few to the detriment of the many.

Rob - 2011-03-12 23:23

My concern is that if the ANC ever loose an election they will not hand over governance to the winner(s) We will in all likelyhood see another African disater in the making.

Educated - 2011-03-13 06:18

Well, you didn't check properly then Matome.

burtfred - 2011-03-13 08:10

Hey Matome,
The ANC's biggest opposition is not in the form of another party - it is in the form of millions of people who have not yet got "a better life", despite the 17 years of empty ANC promises.

ArtGee - 2011-03-13 06:18

You WILL vote for the PEOPLE WE TELL YOU TO VOTE FOR!!!!!!!
African Democracy!!!!!
Votes will be RE-COUNTED, until the RIGHT PARTY WINS!!!!

Freakfloyd - 2011-03-13 10:11

African Democracy? You mean African Klepyocracy..

HomeGrown - 2011-03-13 07:30

Does all this chaos come as a surprise?
With a rapist and corrupt thug as president, who only demonstrate how to bend the law, get away with corruption only to increase the stakes, protect rand promote racists of the worst order and show no real leadership....does all this chaos and what is follow a surprise?

Benzo - 2011-03-13 08:27

ANC: "Meanwhile, Mantashe reiterated that any member who took the ANC to court simply had no interest in the party and would be immediately suspended for bringing the party into disrepute, pending internal disciplinary processes".
So much for internal democracy! On our way to a proper dictatorial form of government African style.

Christopher - 2011-03-13 08:39

That is about the only deduction one can make from that statement, well said Benzo

OuWitBooi - 2011-03-13 10:31

The ANC does not appreciate subtleties like the difference between democracy and majority rule.

Rolie - 2011-03-13 08:31

Mantashe, assumption is the mother of all f#*kups!!!!

Sword&Cross - 2011-03-13 08:52

South African citizens are starting to mature and realize that their actions and vote are what direct the country and not simply hover back and obey a few that CLAIM they are leadership, but who are in fact just maifa style gangsters enriching themselves and a few thousand connected AT THE EXPENSE OF ALL THE VOTERS.
The rigidity of hierarchical pecking order is what will destroy the ANC apart from it's blatant racism

Sword&Cross - 2011-03-13 08:53

Which indian will make a huge profit out of these ANC actions?

saliem - 2011-03-13 09:01

Mantashe said the quality of councillors was "something that is assumed". Yes Mantashe, when you make such an Assumption, You make an @ss out of U and Me :P Such assumptions come with a legacy of non-delivery, nepotism, corruption and crumbling infrastructure. As for threats against members who don't comply, say much for it's disrespect to the constitution and the rule of law.

peter - 2011-03-13 09:48

The ANC is falling apart!

Lehlohonolo - 2011-03-16 15:07

You wish.
But then again that is the propaganda of the opposition. But i think you must work harder to convince the rest of SA maybe bribe more journalists.

burtfred - 2011-03-13 10:37

"the ANC won't be derailed"
The ANC were derailed long ago, soon after Mandela retired and when the racist Mbeki started sprouting "black, black, black".
Every time he opened his mouth, a stream of black African racist rubbish came out of it.
It was further derailed, Mr Mantashe, when you were appointed Secretary General of the party. The SACP now run the party and just like you, call themselves ANC members.
The SACP doesn't field candidates in elections because they know they have a snowball's hope in hell of ever winning. Besides that why bother running in an election when you already rule the country, by proxy, through their ANC membership?

Colin - 2011-03-13 10:57

What black voters don't or will not grasp is their name does not appear on their ballot paper so they cannot be identified for voting for another party. Or maybe after receiving a chicken they feel they must vote ANC or the chicken will become inedible and make them horribly sick and die.

Wishbone - 2011-03-13 13:00

No the ANC will be derailed by their racists policies!

Airwolf - 2011-03-13 13:12

"... any member who took the ANC to court simply had no interest in the party..." Can you believe the absolute arrogance of this man? What he is saying is either you agree with us (regardless) or you have no interest in the ANC and will be immediately suspended. What is this, some kind of Nazi movement?

Macho Mike - 2011-03-13 14:41

Don't you just love the African National Circus. Viva ANC, viva. Hau, eish, my ANC, MY PARTY, MY COMRADES, MY GOVERNMENT, MY HEROES, MY FREEDOM FIGHTERS, MY MINISTERS, MY POLITITIONS, MY EVERYTHING........
My god, what a bunch of useless, corrupt, inefficient, thieving, brainless, incompetent and childish bunch of clowns these ANC people are. And with each passing day, they get worse.
I have more belief that the crisis in Lybia will get resolved first than the situation in SA.

Rob - 2011-03-13 17:08

What a relief! hey Matome, who in their right mind would want to be governed by people who are not criminals, who dislike corruption, who don`t steal, who care for the environment, who are concerned about education, who want decent health care, who are seeking an honest judicial system, who`s police are trustworthy, who are respected by other Governments, who`s international friends are reputable, who strive for decent infrastructure, who are opposed to racism, who`s followers are governable, law abiding reasonable people, who can provide reliable electricity at reasonable rates, who can ensure decent water for all, who`s railway infrastructure isn`t crumbling, who care about rewarding endeavour correctly in sports teams, who`s uneducated Hoi Polloi don`t believe in witch Doctors, Tokoloshes, etc. who`s family values are important, who don`t believe in breeding like rabbits and "end up as underfed, diseased, illiterate shack dwellers living in poverty", who`s school children aren`t falling pregnant in their tens of thousands so they can get child support, who's followers don`t burn, trash, and generally stuff up everything in sight, who`s followers don`t kill anyone who disagrees with them at the drop of a hat, who are not bigotted, self worshiping hatred spewing rapists, murderers, philanderers, Now who Matome, I ask you, in the name of G.d, will want such a Government!!

Rob - 2011-03-13 17:48

What a relief! hey Matome, who in their right mind would want to be governed by people who are not criminals, who dislike corruption, who don`t steal, who care for the environment, who are concerned about education, who want decent health care, who are seeking an honest judicial system, who`s police are trustworthy, who are respected by other Governments, who`s international friends are reputable, who strive for decent infrastructure, who are opposed to racism, who`s followers are governable, law abiding reasonable people, who can provide reliable electricity at reasonable rates, who can ensure decent water for all, who`s railway infrastructure isn`t crumbling, who care about rewarding endeavour correctly in sports teams, who`s uneducated Hoi Polloi don`t believe in witch Doctors, Tokoloshes, etc. who`s family values are important, who don`t believe in breeding like rabbits and "end up as underfed, diseased, illiterate shack dwellers living in poverty", who`s school children are not falling pregnant in their tens of thousands so they can get child support, who's followers don`t burn, trash, and generally stuff up everything in sight, who`s followers will not kill anyone who disagrees with them at the drop of a hat, who are not bigotted, self worshiping hatred spewing rapists, murderers, philanderers? Now who Matome?.....I ask you?.....in the name of G.d, will want such a Government!!

Catarina - 2011-03-21 12:05

I wouldn't have said it better :) but incredible that it may seem it's not only in Africa... Come to Europe and you will see that we have morons too and that corruption is spreading everywhere... It is this lack of morality, ethics and principles - is worldwide... Unfortunately we don't see enough decent people to change this at the moment... It's the system.